Government continues to invest in disruptive and innovative technologies with over €33 million awarded to eight additional DTIF projects

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, today announced funding of €33.1 million for eight additional projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). 

Announcing today’s projects, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: 

“We are living in a time of global trade disruptions and economic uncertainty. Ireland is not immune to the challenges that have arisen, contributing to the rise of unpredictable impacts that continue to disrupt economies and international trade. This Government remains committed to ensuring our economy remains resilient and competitive through this economic turbulence by continuing to invest in research and innovation activities by our SMEs, MNCs and academia.  
Today’s investment through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund positions Ireland at the forefront of emerging technologies, securing strategic advantage in both existing and future markets. By backing innovations in med-tech, life sciences, and sustainable data infrastructure, we are strengthening our healthcare system, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing economic resilience.”

DTIF places a large emphasis on SME participation, as drivers of disruptive innovation. Of the 14 successful projects awarded funding in this call to date, 56% (26) of consortium partners are SMEs and all are leading their project. To date, 223 SMEs have been awarded funding across the seven Calls.

James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science added:

“We are pleased to announce the approval of eight additional projects under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). With 118 projects now supported, this initiative continues to drive transformative change through cutting-edge technologies. These projects will not only deliver innovative solutions that benefit our citizens, but also contribute to the growth of Ireland’s knowledge economy by creating highly specialised, future-focused roles for our graduates.
As Minister, I have placed a strong emphasis on empowering our Technological Universities, and I am proud to see their active involvement in these groundbreaking developments. Their participation reflects our shared commitment to building a future-ready society, one that champions innovation, fosters collaboration, and supports world-class research through initiatives like the DTIF.”

This announcement brings the total allocation of DTIF funding to €455 million. Over €273 million (64%) of that funding has been awarded to project partners outside of Dublin. This will contribute to further economic growth in all regions and create high-quality jobs for talented people who live and work in rural Ireland.

Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: 

“Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which is driving collaboration between SMEs, multinationals and our world-class research base. The projects announced today highlight the strength of Irish innovation in areas such as healthcare, sustainability and advanced manufacturing. By backing these ambitious collaborations, we are enabling companies to develop and commercialise cutting-edge technologies with the potential to transform lives, create new markets and deliver real economic impact for Ireland.”

DTIF Call 7 closed on 30 April 2025 and the remaining applications received are undergoing evaluation. An additional DTIF Call will be announced later this year.

Note to editors

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland. 

The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.

DTIF Call 7 applications are assessed by panels of international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.

To date, a total of €421 million has been allocated to 110 projects consisting of 413 collaborative partners across seven DTIF Calls. These eight projects will bring the total funding awarded to €455 million across 118 projects.  Of the €33.1 million funding being announced today, approximately €17.8 million will be going to project partners outside of Dublin. 

Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the fund and on the application process through enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.